Chapter 13: Secrets Beneath the Surface
Lacy ran her fingers along the worn book spines, inhaling the scent of aged paper as she wandered the quiet aisles of the Book Nook. The bell above the door chimed, signaling a new arrival. Lacy barely glanced up, too absorbed in her search for something—anything—that might help them understand the strange things happening in Calypso Bay.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9PopbHBWW
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeFefmhIXl
Lacy turned, startled by the presence of a woman she hadn't noticed before. She had long, dark waves of hair with hints of blue when the light caught it just right, and her sea-green eyes seemed to hold an entire ocean's worth of secrets. The woman's presence was oddly calming, yet something about her felt ancient, as if she had existed long before Calypso Bay itself.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiVE3Tz40A
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFon0Dlova
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVhW2eBQ6H
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoV4euX5kO
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKP9iRUEULn
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7BwSVM7iU
"Be careful who you trust, Lacy," Thalassa said, her voice lowering. "Maddie Holloway isn't who she pretends to be. If you want to protect Chrissy, stay away from her."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IMQJdJjTU
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelrYQA4bgA
Thalassa didn't answer. Instead, she took Lacy's wrist, gently fastening a bracelet around it. The centerpiece was an aquamarine gemstone, encased by iridescent cowrie shells that shimmered in the dim light. The moment it touched Lacy's skin, a strange warmth spread up her arm.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YZIorVLAS
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GG0JZZLZb
Before Lacy could ask another question, Thalassa gave her one last look and slipped out the door, disappearing as if she had never been there at all.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNww2ZDOYy
⸻38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJULVwlLzwV
Kyle sat cross-legged on the beach, frowning at the assortment of waterproof bags spread out in front of him. Nick stood nearby, arms crossed.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5e0jTZQF1
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YNWk6pH3A
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMuBmlB9p4
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCo2R9fFzO
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ654Z0fxpS
"Why not?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSVEWKbkl3
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOPcLj5YE1
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBSKQh2kSK
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne3N4cQSqq
"Overthinking," Nick warned.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRqNq3AQKg
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK52z7hLYz
As they debated the best way to waterproof Chrissy's food, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see a woman standing at the edge of the beach, watching them with amusement.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA4kKDjhiG
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZXDYuwhVs
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtTFu7x1NQ
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFNlb2aHKx
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD4i4LV5T4
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpxtdPFHcT
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS5XM5Ue9a
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvvhGYPZkq
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPq4D89xLz
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu1PGAGErV
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF5YDUcoFM
⸻38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHbSCwfXBi
Nick entered the Book Nook, brushing sand off his hands. He barely had time to register the quiet atmosphere before Lacy grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the back of the store.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChRWwzzyPH
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjeSYKrt61
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMhG6OnK6j
Lacy glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "A woman—Thalassa—came in earlier. She knew about Chrissy, Nick. And she warned me about Maddie."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ikz3KT6tn
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau6PvMwubJ
"She told me Maddie isn't who she pretends to be," Lacy said. "And then she gave me this." She lifted her wrist, revealing the bracelet with the aquamarine gemstone. "She said Chrissy needs it."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqSev5OxSl
Nick stared at it, his mind racing. It looked eerily similar to the compass-like artifact Chrissy had found. "You're sure she just gave it to you?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzlWtaldIg
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPDNNZfIks
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35kLvJdPzZ
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpspD6nJDxT
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1V03pHyDZ
⸻38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiQOdsJrMK
Later that evening, Lacy found herself in the upstairs section of the Book Nook, running her fingers along the spines of old books. Something caught her eye—a thick, leather-bound volume titled The Genealogical Trees of the Founding Families of Calypso Bay.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDWC8E9h2i
Curious, she pulled it from the shelf and flipped through its pages. The names were neatly arranged in alphabetical order. She skimmed through them until she reached the "H" section.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEWhD1Zuph
Her breath caught.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMAgQz43V9
Holloway.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnBPR5adUq
Her stomach twisted. Maddie had sworn her family was new to town. But if her last name was in this book, that meant her family had been part of Calypso Bay for generations.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbNykdM93K
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci4dGJN4ea
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBBxdQG4eQ
⸻38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVnkkeg7To
Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAU5GnLnan
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl7nKt8y5m
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRKNc4Vyeh
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg8sa2O25d
Nick's mind clicked into place, the realization hitting him like a wave. "It's her. Thalassa. The same woman who warned Lacy about Maddie."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNvsHEyZdS
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAcpNlK8uO
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHHUuQNzgL
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtOUnsqgVI
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZkZzgkDwR
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